Chapter 208: Trip to the Turks
Following Wang Tiehan's lead, everyone hurried to the back hall where Zong Huaichang was.

In the back hall, the candlelight flickered, illuminating Zong Huaichang's slightly pale face. He was drinking medicine with the help of a servant.

Seeing Di Renjie and others coming in, he struggled to stand up and salute. Di Renjie hurriedly stepped forward and held his shoulders, saying gently: "General Zong, you have just recovered from a serious injury, there is no need to be polite."

General Zong smiled gratefully and said, "Thank you for your concern, Marshal. I am fine now. I have heard everything from Wang Tiehan."

"I would like to thank you for saving my life. But I am incompetent and cannot help the court. I have been defeated in many battles, which has caused General Wang to suffer such misfortune. I feel very guilty."

After saying this, Zong Huaichang shook his head, seeming quite guilty.

Zhao Ji heard this and quickly comforted him, "General Zong, don't worry about it. This is all done by Su Honghui, Qiu Jing and others. It's not your fault."

Although he did not think highly of this cowardly man, among the twenty-eight generals who had participated in the Northern Expedition at the beginning, Zhao Ji was familiar with only Yang Xuanji and Zhang Jiujie, and now only Zong Huaichang was left. He was filled with emotion at this moment.

Di Renjie gently patted the back of Zong Huaichang's hand and comforted him, "Chengyuan is right. The general is not fully recovered yet and needs to be well taken care of."

Quan Shancai also quickly spoke to comfort him: "Yes, General Zong, take good care of yourself. After you recover, you can take on important responsibilities again."

Zong Huaichang was deeply moved and agreed repeatedly.

Di Renjie turned to look at Quan Shancai and Zeng Tai, and said, "The safety of Pingzhou is now in your hands. You must remain vigilant and guard against the infiltration of the Khitan and the Snake Spirits. Strengthen the city defenses and ensure that there are sufficient food, fodder and weapons in case of emergency."

"General Zong has also led the Right Guard's army. After he recovers, he can also lend a helping hand to you. You must cooperate sincerely."

Quan Shancai, Zeng Tai and Zong Huaichang responded in unison, saying that they would definitely live up to the trust.

Everyone exchanged some pleasantries and dispersed without disturbing Zong Huaichang's rest.

Zong Huaichang watched everyone leave, shook his head, without any of his previous frustration, and drank the bitter medicine in his hand in one gulp.
-
Since the night when Deputy General Sha and Su Honghui died, Ruyan has been in a trance. After her shadow was exposed, the symptom became even more severe.

The candle was burning inch by inch. She was sitting in the room, her eyes dull and empty.

"Knock, knock, knock," a series of rapid knocks on the door broke the silence of the night.

"Who is it?" Ruyan quickly changed her expression, pretended to be calm, jumped up and opened the door.

When the door opened, Li Yuanfang's tall figure appeared, and his figure completely covered Ruyan's petite body.

Ruyan blinked her eyes, feeling strange: "Yuanfang, it's so late, what's the matter?"

"Sir, let me inform you that we will set out together to the Turkic Stone Kingdom tomorrow." Li Yuanfang said calmly.

"Turks! Stone Kingdom?" Ruyan was caught off guard.

She quickly used a cheerful expression to cover up her gaffe: "Why did my uncle agree to take me with him this time?"

Li Yuanfang said angrily: "He was afraid that he would not take you with him, so you ran away secretly by yourself."

Ruyan blushed slightly when she heard this, and smiled awkwardly, "How could I be so ignorant of my own limits?"

"Okay, pack up and go to bed early. We have to set off early tomorrow morning." Li Yuanfang reminded again.

Ruyan nodded, and Li Yuanfang turned and left.

After a long while when Li Yuanfang's back gradually walked away, Ruyan closed the door weakly, feeling extremely conflicted and with stars twinkling in her eyes.

"Sister... Yuan Fang..." She murmured softly, with thousands of thoughts in her mind, unable to calm down.

The next morning, Di Renjie, Zhao Ji and others got up early and got ready.

Zhao Ji specifically told Quan Shancai a few words: "General Quan, there may be Snake Spirit rebels in Pingzhou City, so be careful. We still need to keep an eye on those courtyards where the rebels have been caught, maybe there will be gains."

Quan Shancai nodded: "The Marshal also mentioned this, I understand, the journey to the Turks is difficult and dangerous, take care!"

"Take care, General!" Zhao Ji bowed and said goodbye.
-
In the vast land where the Turks and Xi people meet, there is a desolate mountain with no grass growing.

The north swept by with a roar, raising a cloud of dust. In an instant, heaven and earth were in chaos.

A group of Turkic cavalry came galloping, led by General Daleha, and a patrol captain was leading him to the station of Harile Eagle Division. It was a coincidence that a group of Han cavalry passed through this area at high speed dozens of miles away. They were Di Renjie, Zhao Ji and his party.

Daleha rushed to the Eagle Division’s base and showed the Turkic soldiers the golden order from Jili Khan. He had an unimpeded journey and arrived at Haril’s central military tent.

Harile had been waiting for him in the tent for a long time.

Outside the big tent, the guards brought by Daleha were guarding on both sides of the tent, all with solemn expressions, until they saw a person's face clearly.

"Your Highness Mochuo, why are you here?" Someone in the guard recognized the face.

Mochu smiled but did not answer. He just waved his hand. In an instant, archers appeared like ghosts and surrounded the guards.

Arrows rained down like raindrops, and the guards were caught off guard and fell in a pool of blood.

A fierce quarrel immediately broke out in the tent, followed by several screams.

A conflict soon broke out inside the tent, and Dalha and his personal guards were hacked to death by Harile and his men.

Harile walked up to the corpse, searched out the golden decree from his arms, and said proudly to the outsiders: "Your Highness Mochu is really a genius, and the golden decree has been obtained!"

As the curtain was lifted, His Highness Mochu and Xiao Qingfang walked into the tent side by side.

Xiao Qingfang's face was filled with smiles: "The Tiger Division of the Stone Kingdom has arrived at the border to guard against the Zhou army. Now is the time to start planning."

Mochu nodded and said to the patrol captain who led the way: "You must return to Shiguo immediately to report to Jili Khan. Remember, you must keep him stable!"

The captain agreed loudly and ran out the door.

Mochu took the golden order from Harile and said with a smile: "I will immediately order the Leopard Division to gather and move closer to the Stone Kingdom. I think within ten days, my weak father will..."

He laughed wildly and made a throat-slitting gesture.

Xiao Qingfang also laughed. She walked to the map, pointed at it and said, "As soon as Jili Khan dies, you will immediately send the Tiger Division to capture Guizhou and Yunzhou."

"I will send a message to Sun Wanrong of the Khitan, asking him to lead his army to attack **zhou immediately. The two will work together, and the northern border of the Great Zhou will be completely open to us. The fertile land of Hebei will become fat meat within easy reach."

Mochu burst into wild laughter again, as if he had become the Khan of the Turks.

However, someone came in from outside the tent and interrupted Mochu's interest.

"Sister, there's news from Pingzhou." Xiaomei handed a note to Xiao Qingfang.

Xiao Qingfang took the note with a smile on her face, and that smile gradually froze and finally disappeared completely.

Seeing this, Mochu hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

Xiao Qingfang's face darkened: "That old fox Di Renjie has seen through some of my arrangements in Pingzhou, and is now rushing towards the Turks at a very fast speed."

Mochu was startled and asked with a little concern: "Will it affect our plan just now?"

Xiao Qingfang shook her head and smiled smugly again: "No, he only saw through part of the plan. After all, I am still more skilled."

Mochu nodded and sneered: "So that's the case. I've heard my father talk about him a long time ago. But now it seems that he is not as great as he boasts! If he dares to come to Turkic, I will make him die without a complete corpse!"

Xiao Qingfang warned: "Don't underestimate Di Renjie. This time I sacrificed many good fighters and paid the price of blood to barely gain a little advantage. I even lost one of the six snake heads of my Snake Spirit. Don't underestimate the enemy!"

"Li Yuanfang and Zhao Ji both followed Di Renjie to the Turkic region. They are both very skilled in martial arts. Zhao Ji alone can't even get the upper hand over the Blood Spirit, let alone Li Yuanfang, so they can only outsmart him, not outfight him."

Speaking of this, Xiaomei smiled in her heart and remembered the last "assassination" incident.

Xiao Qingfang continued, "It will take time for the pigeon to send the letter and for Xiaomei to come here. Di Renjie has been on the road for a long time. We can't delay any longer. We must rush back to Shiguo immediately and make arrangements in advance."

"Di Renjie, Zhao Ji, and Li Yuanfang have all come to the Turks. Pingzhou has a good opportunity to take advantage of this. Xiaomei, you should immediately send a message to Sun Wanrong and ask him to launch the plan ahead of time."

Mochu felt somewhat dissatisfied, but seeing Xiao Qingfang was so serious, he just let her go: "There is a saying in the Central Plains that a strong dragon cannot defeat a local snake. The Turks are the place where Di Renjie was buried!"

(End of this chapter)